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儿童英语读物 The Mystery of the Wild Ponies CHAPTER 10 Benny’s Promise

时间:2017-09-28 06:27:43

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(单词翻译)

Benny recognized the figure instantly.

“Officer Hyde!” he exclaimed, running to meet him. “Midnight is in trouble!”

Thomas Hyde looked sternly at everyone. “What’s going on? Where is Midnight?”

“On the other side of the ravine,” said Jessie. “It’s filled with water. Midnight is too scared to jump across.”

“Who knows where he is?” Officer Hyde demanded.

“I do,” replied Austin.

“How deep is this ravine?” asked Officer Hyde.

“Pretty deep,” Shad replied. “The horse could jump across, but he’s got a hurt leg, and we’re afraid he’d drown.”

“Take me to him now,” Officer Hyde ordered Austin. “And I’ll need someone else to help.” His eye fell on Henry. “Henry, you come with us.”

From his Jeep, Officer Hyde retrieved1 extra flashlights, ponchos2 for the boys, and a sturdy rope.

“Can we come, too?” asked Violet.

Officer Hyde shook his head. “Too many people will make Midnight skittish3. We will get as close as we can with the Jeep. Midnight is wild, but he knows me. I think if the three of us stay calm and move slowly, he will let me put a rope around his neck and we can lead him to safety. We’ll be back as soon as we can.”

Everyone was too anxious to go back inside, so they waited on Shad’s porch.

“I hope Midnight is okay,” said Benny.

“I told Austin it was a fool thing to keep that animal,” Shad muttered. “And I’d made him promise to call the sanctuary4 tomorrow, to let them know he’d found him.”

Jessie stared at Shad. “You knew about the horse?”

“Not until the other day,” Shad replied. “I found tracks by my old barn. Austin told me he had found the horse loose and hurt. He decided5 to befriend him.”

“Where was Austin going to keep him?” asked Benny. “It’s kind of hard to hide a horse.”

“It sure is!” Shad agreed. “But I’ve got a fair piece of property and it’s all fenced in. Nobody comes snooping around here. Well, not most people, anyway,” he added, and he shot Winifred a glance.

They stood and waited on the porch, watching the rain for what seemed like a long time. No one had the heart to go on talking. They were all worried about Midnight. Then they saw movement in the weeds of Shad’s yard.

“Here they come!” Winifred exclaimed.

Henry, Austin, and Thomas Hyde came into view. Soaked to the skin, they tromped up onto the porch.

“We got him around,” Thomas reported. “Midnight is in your old barn, Shad.”

“He’ll be safe there,” Shad said. “Till you move him up to the sanctuary.”

“I’ll drive you Aldens back to your cottage so you can get out of those wet things,” said Officer Hyde. “Ms. Gorman, too.”

Shad nodded. “Austin’s folks ought to arrive sometime tomorrow, unless they are delayed by the storm.”

“Shad!” Austin exclaimed. “You called my parents?”

“Yes,” said Shad. “I just didn’t feel right about them not knowing where you really were. I called them from the public phone at the docks. I planned to tell you before they arrived.”

“Bring Austin back to my place for now,” Winifred offered. “The phones might still be working there. And I have a coffeemaker that works without electricity.”

Everyone but Shad climbed into Officer Hyde’s Jeep. When they arrived at Gullwing Cottage, Grandfather met them at the door. He looked anxious.

“I’ve been worried,” he said. “You got caught in the storm. The power went off for a while—”

“They’re all fine,” Officer Hyde reassured6 him. “Just very wet.”

“We found Midnight!” Benny crowed. “He’s been hiding at Shad’s! Austin took him.”

Grandfather looked puzzled.

“It’s a long story,” said Officer Hyde. “Go change, kids, and we’ll meet at Ms. Gorman’s house.”

The children quickly put on dry clothes. By the time they left the cottage, it had stopped raining and the sun was setting behind the receding7 storm clouds.

Winifred cheerfully introduced herself to Grandfather as she invited them all inside.

Violet loved Winifred’s house. The walls were decorated with colorful paintings. Funny sculptures sat on the white wicker tables. And the painting of a black horse—obviously Midnight—was prominently displayed on an easel.

Winifred had changed and was wearing a long, loose, silky blue dress. Green pottery8 mugs waited on a round wooden tray, along with a plate of butter cookies.

“The coffee will be just a minute,” she said. “I have juice for you young people.”

“Do Austin’s parents know where he is?” asked Grandfather.

“Yes, Shad called them earlier today.” She scooped9 coffee grounds into a glass beaker, then poured in boiling water. “It seems they’re still on the mainland because of the storm. But Officer Hyde says they’ve talked to the sheriff’s office here and the search for Austin has been called off.”

When everyone had been served, they sat around the large glass table.

“Austin, you know running away and taking Midnight are both serious offenses,” said Officer Hyde.

Austin nodded, swallowing. “I knew it was wrong. But I wasn’t going to keep him. And I know I shouldn’t have run away in the first place.”

“But why didn’t you go to Shad’s right away?” said Henry.

“I was afraid he’d make me tell my folks and I’d have to go back to camp,” Austin replied.

“I did, finally!” Shad said emphatically.

“So that’s why I hid out,” Austin continued. “It was okay at first. I walked all over the island. One evening I found Midnight. He was limping. He had a scrape on his front leg. So I took him back to Shad’s barn.”

“Didn’t you know it’s against the law to touch the wild horses, much less take one?” asked Thomas Hyde.

“I didn’t really take him. I found him. I don’t know much about those rules, but I could see the horse was like me: lonely. I wanted to help him. So I washed his leg and tore up my T-shirt to make a bandage.”

“I discovered the horse,” Shad admitted. “I knew Austin had done wrong, but I felt sorry for both of them: the horse shut away, the boy sent away. So I put some medicine on Midnight’s leg, bandaged it right. I knew we couldn’t keep that horse hidden for long. Austin promised he’d call the sanctuary tomorrow.”

“You told us about Magic to confuse us,” accused Jessie. “In case we ever saw a horse, we’d think it was the ghost horse.”

“So you wanted me to think the horse I saw was a ghost?” Benny asked.

“I’m not proud of that story I told you,” said Shad. “I did have a reason. One night Midnight got out. Austin went after him. The horse was loose on the beach. Austin called, trying to get him back.”

“That was the cry I heard,” Benny concluded. “But the horse wasn’t Magic?”

Henry shook his head. “No, Benny.”

“I finally caught him way down the beach,” Austin said. “And got him back in Shad’s barn. The next day, Shad found him.”

Henry nodded. “That explains why we couldn’t find your footprints. We didn’t walk far enough.”

Grandfather had been studying the horse painting. “You painted Midnight,” he said to Winifred. “You knew about the missing horse, too.”

“Not at first,” said Winifred. “I actually saw Midnight before I knew anything about a missing horse. I could hardly believe my eyes. I’d been having trouble sleeping and got up to look out the back door and there he was, looking glorious on the dunes10. He was gone in a moment. I almost thought I’d dreamed him. I sketched12 him immediately. In the morning, before the sun was up, I’d finished the painting. I know I told you I hadn’t seen a horse, but I never like to talk about my paintings and I almost wanted to believe he had been a dream. My dream.” Winifred looked at the children. “I’m sorry I lied to you.”

Austin spoke13 up. “Winnie’s cool. I took some apples from her carport one night. Midnight likes apples.” He turned to Jessie. “I found the plate of food you put out from your clambake. Thanks.”

Jessie nodded. “I saw you earlier. I thought you might be hungry.”

“We saw someone carrying a heavy bucket,” Violet said to Austin. “That was you, taking Winifred’s apples.”

“The foggy night,” Henry remembered. “We saw a phantom14 horse, like Magic.”

“It was Midnight,” Austin said. “He got out again. I lured15 him back to Shad’s with the apples.”

“How do you fit in?” Grandfather asked Winifred.

She spread her hands, indicating her paintings on the walls. “My art had not been going well. I came here to see if my work would improve. Violet saw one of my paintings and suggested I add animals. After I saw and painted Midnight, I was thrilled. I wanted to paint him again.”

“We thought you had taken Midnight,” said Benny. “And you were going to sell him to that New York man.”

Winifred laughed. “That New York man is my agent! He sells my paintings!”

“We heard you say the black horse was the best,” Violet explained. “And that the others were worthless. Then the man said he’d get a good price for the horse in New York. We thought you were talking about the island’s horses.”

“You only heard part of it,” Winifred said. “I meant the horse painting was the best—the rest of my work was worthless. My agent said he’d get a good price for the horse painting in New York.”

“I met Winnie yesterday,” said Austin. “I was out looking for my necklace when I saw her on her deck sketching16. I couldn’t help but notice that the horse she was drawing looked like Midnight. Then she took her charcoal17 and darkened the horse and I was sure it was Midnight. It was so beautiful I had to say something—even though I didn’t want anyone to know about Midnight—or me. Winnie told me she’d glimpsed the horse only once—that she wasn’t even sure he was real and that she’d been to the sanctuary several times hoping to see him again. She seemed to care for him as much as I did, and after she promised she would keep my secret, I took her to see him.”

Winifred was smiling warmly at Austin.

“Then I told her I took her beach towel and her apples and she said she didn’t care anymore. She even drew my picture.”

“And we hit it off, didn’t we, Austin? You, Midnight, and I,” Winifred said.

Officer Hyde put his empty mug on the table. “Well, I must get back to the herd18. Midnight will be fine in Shad’s barn till tomorrow. Then I’m taking him back to the sanctuary.” He looked sternly at Austin. “I’ll also talk to the sheriff and discuss your keeping Midnight at Shad’s, Austin.”

Austin stared at the floor.

“Austin is going home with me tonight,” said Shad. “His folks will be at my place in about an hour.”

“How about if we all meet tomorrow morning at the sanctuary?” said Officer Hyde, going to the door. “I’m sure everyone wants to see Midnight returned safely.”

“We’ll be there,” Grandfather said to Winifred. “We should going, too. Thanks for the coffee.”

Benny looked back at Austin. The boy’s shoulders were slumped19 in misery20. What would happen to him?

The next morning the sky was blue, as if the storm had scrubbed it extra-clean.

The Aldens and Winifred left early for the sanctuary.

A crowd gathered at the sanctuary gate—the Aldens, Winifred, Officer Hyde, and Shad. Austin introduced his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Derrick, to everyone. They had arrived the night before and seemed very glad to be with their son. Officer Hyde had brought Midnight from Shad’s in a horse trailer.

He backed the trailer into the open gate and let down the ramp21. Midnight walked off and immediately joined several members of the herd who had climbed over the dune11 out of curiosity.

“I promised we’d find Midnight!” Benny called to the horses.

“Will he be the leader again?” Violet wanted to know.

Officer Hyde nodded. “I think it’ll be all right.”

“What about me?” Austin asked nervously22.

“I’ve discussed the case with the sheriff and the sheriff has spoken with our local judge,” said Officer Hyde. “Since you are underage, we decided you have to pay the fine for taking Midnight, but instead of a sentence, you will do community service.”

“But Austin doesn’t live here,” said Mrs. Derrick.

“He can stay with me, if that is all right with his parents and the authorities,” said Shad.

“And I would like to help pay the fine,” offered Winifred.

“That’s quite all right—” Mr. Derrick began.

“Please let me,” said Winifred. “I knew about the horse and should have told the authorities immediately.”

“What kind of community service will I be doing?” Austin asked Officer Hyde.

“Working with the horses,” he answered.

“You can help me take care of the herd.”

For the first time, a smile lit up Austin’s face.

Mrs. Derrick looked relieved. “I’m sorry your father and I are away so much. But running away isn’t the answer. We were so terribly worried.”

“I know.” Austin looked as though he knew how much worry he had caused them and was truly sorry.

To lessen23 the tension, Grandfather said lightly, “I thought you kids weren’t going to find a mystery here!”

“One found us anyway,” Henry said, grinning.

Everyone looked relieved and a bit tired after the long, eventful day before and their early morning meeting.

“Grandfather!” Benny cried. “Next time we go on vacation, we promise no mysteries!”

The grown-ups laughed heartily24 at Benny’s declaration but Henry, Jessie, Violet, and even Benny wondered silently if it was a promise they would be able to keep.


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 retrieved 1f81ff822b0877397035890c32e35843     
v.取回( retrieve的过去式和过去分词 );恢复;寻回;检索(储存的信息)
参考例句:
  • Yesterday I retrieved the bag I left in the train. 昨天我取回了遗留在火车上的包。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He reached over and retrieved his jacket from the back seat. 他伸手从后座上取回了自己的夹克。 来自辞典例句
2 ponchos bc0dbb4dc2f41a5ab04cdef9050c5efa     
n.斗篷( poncho的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The men cast off their packs, withdrew their ponchos and set up their pup tents again. 大家扔下了背包,取出了雨披,把小帐篷重又架了起来。 来自辞典例句
3 skittish 5hay2     
adj.易激动的,轻佻的
参考例句:
  • She gets very skittish when her boy-friend is around.她男朋友在场时,她就显得格外轻佻。
  • I won't have my son associating with skittish girls.我不准我的儿子与轻佻的女孩交往。
4 sanctuary iCrzE     
n.圣所,圣堂,寺庙;禁猎区,保护区
参考例句:
  • There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
  • Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。
5 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
6 reassured ff7466d942d18e727fb4d5473e62a235     
adj.使消除疑虑的;使放心的v.再保证,恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句:
  • The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 receding c22972dfbef8589fece6affb72f431d1     
v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 );向后倾斜;自原处后退或避开别人的注视;尤指问题
参考例句:
  • Desperately he struck out after the receding lights of the yacht. 游艇的灯光渐去渐远,他拼命划水追赶。 来自辞典例句
  • Sounds produced by vehicles receding from us seem lower-pitched than usual. 渐渐远离我们的运载工具发出的声似乎比平常的音调低。 来自辞典例句
8 pottery OPFxi     
n.陶器,陶器场
参考例句:
  • My sister likes to learn art pottery in her spare time.我妹妹喜欢在空余时间学习陶艺。
  • The pottery was left to bake in the hot sun.陶器放在外面让炎热的太阳烘晒焙干。
9 scooped a4cb36a9a46ab2830b09e95772d85c96     
v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 );(敏捷地)抱起;抢先获得;用铲[勺]等挖(洞等)
参考例句:
  • They scooped the other newspapers by revealing the matter. 他们抢先报道了这件事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The wheels scooped up stones which hammered ominously under the car. 车轮搅起的石块,在车身下发出不吉祥的锤击声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 dunes 8a48dcdac1abf28807833e2947184dd4     
沙丘( dune的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The boy galloped over the dunes barefoot. 那男孩光着脚在沙丘间飞跑。
  • Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat. 将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。
11 dune arHx6     
n.(由风吹积而成的)沙丘
参考例句:
  • The sand massed to form a dune.沙积集起来成了沙丘。
  • Cute Jim sat on the dune eating a prune in June.可爱的吉姆在六月天坐在沙丘上吃着话梅。
12 sketched 7209bf19355618c1eb5ca3c0fdf27631     
v.草拟(sketch的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • The historical article sketched the major events of the decade. 这篇有关历史的文章概述了这十年中的重大事件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He sketched the situation in a few vivid words. 他用几句生动的语言简述了局势。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
13 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
14 phantom T36zQ     
n.幻影,虚位,幽灵;adj.错觉的,幻影的,幽灵的
参考例句:
  • I found myself staring at her as if she were a phantom.我发现自己瞪大眼睛看着她,好像她是一个幽灵。
  • He is only a phantom of a king.他只是有名无实的国王。
15 lured 77df5632bf83c9c64fb09403ae21e649     
吸引,引诱(lure的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • The child was lured into a car but managed to escape. 那小孩被诱骗上了车,但又设法逃掉了。
  • Lured by the lust of gold,the pioneers pushed onward. 开拓者在黄金的诱惑下,继续奋力向前。
16 sketching 2df579f3d044331e74dce85d6a365dd7     
n.草图
参考例句:
  • They are sketching out proposals for a new road. 他们正在草拟修建新路的计划。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • "Imagination is busy sketching rose-tinted pictures of joy. “飞舞驰骋的想象描绘出一幅幅玫瑰色欢乐的场景。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
17 charcoal prgzJ     
n.炭,木炭,生物炭
参考例句:
  • We need to get some more charcoal for the barbecue.我们烧烤需要更多的碳。
  • Charcoal is used to filter water.木炭是用来过滤水的。
18 herd Pd8zb     
n.兽群,牧群;vt.使集中,把…赶在一起
参考例句:
  • She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
  • He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见,只是人云亦云。
19 slumped b010f9799fb8ebd413389b9083180d8d     
大幅度下降,暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 ); 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]
参考例句:
  • Sales have slumped this year. 今年销售量锐减。
  • The driver was slumped exhausted over the wheel. 司机伏在方向盘上,疲惫得睡着了。
20 misery G10yi     
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦
参考例句:
  • Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
  • He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
21 ramp QTgxf     
n.暴怒,斜坡,坡道;vi.作恐吓姿势,暴怒,加速;vt.加速
参考例句:
  • That driver drove the car up the ramp.那司机将车开上了斜坡。
  • The factory don't have that capacity to ramp up.这家工厂没有能力加速生产。
22 nervously tn6zFp     
adv.神情激动地,不安地
参考例句:
  • He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
  • He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
23 lessen 01gx4     
vt.减少,减轻;缩小
参考例句:
  • Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
  • They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。
24 heartily Ld3xp     
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很
参考例句:
  • He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
  • The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。

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